Skyhawks want shot at state title

Since 2000, no team in the state of Virginia has won as many games as L.C. Bird, and failed to win a state title. The Skyhawks are two wins away from changing that designation.

Bird will play Oakton Saturday in the state semifinals. While David Bedwell will not say that this is his best team since he's been in Chesterfield, it is the first one that's gone 12-0. Bedwell has brought three teams this far (in 03, 04 and 05), but he hasn't been able to bring Bird it's first state championship.

To get to the title game, Bird will face the surprise winner of the Northern Region. Oakton lost four straight games during the regular season, but went 2-0 in the region playoffs, and knocked off previously undefeated Westfield in the region championship game.

Oakton comes from the Concorde district - one of the strongest in VA. Bedwell knows it well - he played at Fairfax High School, a rival of Oakton. He admits that this Oakton team may be the toughest and most well-disciplined team they've played all year. In fact, he says they remind him of his own team.